Keyes recommends giving yourself a reflexology foot rub every night before bed for improved sleep, along with the other benefits that go hand-in-hand with a little self-love. Can you do reflexology on yourself?īoth experts agree that you can indeed perform reflexology on yourself. As such, you can just interpret this along the lines of general massage wisdom: If you discover a knot or sore spot, gently rub it-but, per Keyes, only “apply just enough pressure to bring about relaxation and circulation,” whilst avoiding a high degree of discomfort, as this will ultimately make the body tense up even more. Moy adds that pain is very common in the feet: “Muscles and connective tissue between the metatarsals and toes get stiff and have less flexibility or joint mobility so when they get mobilized it can feel painful.” The massage therapists agree that reflexology is meant to alleviate such pain though, not exacerbate it. That said, it’s always a good idea to pay attention to tender spots in your feet and give them a little extra love, says Keyes, who cites “a combination of blockages due to toxins and poor circulation or chi energy flow” as sources for such pain. (She also shared a personal anecdote on the subject regarding her mother, a master reflexologist, whose massage technique brings her to tears: “Even though my headaches, or whatever the problem was, would go away in five minutes, maybe because the pain was so much worse in my big toe.”) The takeaway? When it comes to reflexology, the ‘no pain, no gain’ philosophy does not apply. In fact, Keyes says that “reflexology doesn’t have to be painful to work,” so discomfort might just be an indication that the reflexologist is going at it a little too aggressively for your taste. Again, there is no science to support the notion that a sensitive spot on your foot corresponds with a health issue in another part of your body. So your tootsies are getting prodded and it feels a little painful.well, you needn’t read into it too much.
What does it mean when a reflexology point hurts? Per Tsao-Lin Moy, a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist, “diminished sensory in feet or nerve damage” are important considerations, as “some conditions can cause more inflammation such as RSD.” She also notes that women in their first trimester of pregnancy should make sure the practitioner has experience with pregnant clients, which is just sound advice across the board there’s no evidence that points to reflexology posing a pregnancy risk. However, as with all types of massage, it is important that the person performing it has adequate training and considers the individual’s personal health profile and needs. Good news: There are precious few risks associated with reflexology, which is why it is widely embraced as a complementary therapy for individuals suffering from any or all of the aforementioned ailments (i.e., psychological stress, pain, fatigue and poor sleep).
What are the risks associated with foot reflexology?
RIGHT FOOT ARCH PAIN REFLEXOLOGY HOW TO
For this reason, perhaps, certified reflexology and massage therapist Lakshmi (Ambujam) Keyes has found that many clients end up sleeping better and feeling better overall after a single session, or even after just a DIY reflexology-inspired foot massage (keep reading to find out how to perform this type of rub down on your own feet). Both anecdotal evidence and scientific research suggests that reflexology can provide relief from fatigue, insomnia and chronic pain-namely because these conditions are often either caused or exacerbated by psychological symptoms (think: anxiety). What are the benefits of foot reflexology?Īs previously mentioned, stress reduction and relaxation are the main rewards of reflexology. Still, many studies do show that reflexology can be beneficial to well-being in general, by increasing relaxation and lowering stress (similar to other forms of massage). Again, there’s not much in the way of scientific evidence to support the idea that massaging a certain pressure point in your foot will have any effect on another part of the body.
That said, reflexology is ultimately just a form of massage and should not be relied upon to treat serious health issues. If the outcome you’re hoping for is stress relief and a feeling of general wellness, then the simple answer is yes, reflexology can really work.
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